Posted by SCAFoundation on 10/27/2009

October has been filled with activities around the country to raise awareness and help save lives threatened by sudden cardiac arrest. Here are some things we've been up to:

  • Hosting the 2009 Genesis Awards Reception to honor Mike Piccione and the other Rhinebeck High School heroes who saved the life of Kaitlin Forbes, a case highlighted in our You Can Save a Life at School (tm) campaign 2009 Genesis Awards
  • Working to raise awareness in Allegheny County, PA Proclamation
  • Working to raise awareness about sudden cardiac arrest at the World Series World Series
  • Offering an awareness and discovery day at a school in Salisbury, Maryland St. Francis de Sales
  • Working with our newest sponsors, HeartSine and Your Safety Company, which will donate a portion of sales proceeds to the SCA Foundation HeartSine AEDs
  • Conducting our our second video awareness contest for schools on YouTube(tm) Second video contest
  • Working with social media sensation Jason Sadler of iwearyourshirt.com--who has been talking about sudden cardiac arrest and promoting our fall video contest throughout October Jason
  • *Welcoming our newest board members, cardiologists Dr. Srinivas Murali (Pittsburgh) and Dr. Laurence Sperling (Atlanta), and electrophysiologist, Dr. James Cockrell (Washington, DC) Board of Directors.

How about you? Tell us about your efforts to raise awareness during National SCA Awareness Month?

Comments

Submitted by Matt John on 11/04/2009

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A cardiac arrest, also known as cardiopulmonary arrest or circulatory arrest, is the abrupt cessation of normal circulation of the blood due to failure of the heart to contract effectively during systole.[1]

A cardiac arrest is different from (but may be caused by) a heart attack (myocardial infarction), where blood flow to the still-beating heart is interrupted (as in cardiogenic shock).

Arrested blood circulation prevents delivery of oxygen to all parts of the body. Cerebral hypoxia, or lack of oxygen supply to the brain, causes victims to lose consciousness and to stop normal breathing, although agonal breathing may still occur. a+ practical exams, Brain injury is likely if cardiac arrest is untreated for more than five minutes,[2] although new treatments such as induced hypothermia have begun to extend this time.[3][4] To improve survival and neurological recovery immediate response is paramount.[5]

Cardiac arrest is a medical emergency that, in certain groups of patients, is potentially reversible if treated early enough (See "reversible causes" below). When unexpected cardiac arrest leads to death this is called sudden cardiac death (SCD).[1] The primary first-aid treatment for cardiac arrest is cardiopulmonary resuscitation (commonly known as CPR) which provides circulatory support until availability of definitive medical treatment, which will vary dependent on the rhythm the heart is exhibiting, but often requires defibrillation.

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